Staircase

A stairway, staircase, stairwell, flight of stairs, or simply stairs is a construction designed to bridge a large vertical distance by dividing it into smaller vertical distances, called steps. When you think of Stairs, there are hundreds of possibilities in terms of the shapes, the design, the location and the materials that can be used. To help you decide on the best Staircase, an Architect has explained Staircases …..

There are many technical terms used with Staircases and they can be quite confusing for the layman. As an Architect, there have been several instances where I have had to explain the technical terms to my clients. For example, what is the difference between Baluster, Banister and Balustrade? They are actually quite different. So the first thing you need to know are the terms associated with Stairs. Read on…..

The designing of Staircases is important as they are very visible and can be a central design feature of a home. Curved, cantilevered, spiral or suspended, in steel, glass, wood, copper or aluminium – infinite possibilities have been opened up by clever design and engineering. As an Architect, I see the potential to add that ‘wow factor’ to a house using Staircases. So here are some tips on planning a Staircase …..

When choosing the type of staircase for a space, the following aspects should be taken into account: space available, intensity of usage, form (shape) preferred, convenience and safety. Here is a brief description of the different types of Staircases based on the number of stringers and shapes. An Architect explains each type of staircase with it’s advantages and disadvantages…..